This week it's mostly catch up from me then Brad and I discuss my new Nikon 28-400mm lens and how it worked out on the last couple of outings.

Brad shares about his awesome recent outing with waterfowl and fall colors as well as his new approach to that photography, I share a bunch of updates about what I have been shooting along the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Listener Martin Stevens sent in a message suggesting we check out Underwater Photographer of the Year's contest yearbook with judges comments so we discuss that for a bit. We planned on talking about a new Nikon lens I am interested but never got around to it and we wrap up the episode chatting about the topic of wildlife photography becoming life consuming, when that happened and what it's like.

Michelle Mackenzie joins me to discuss her progress with bird photography in the last year, making sure she keeps the joy in her photography, starting an Instagram group called "Shoot Small" and many other things!

This week Ray shares updates on his travels and the shooting he has been up to in Washington State mostly in the Olympic Peninsula. He also shares about meeting up with some photographer friends along the way!

Brad and I catch up on the past week with Brad photogarphing a Northern Gannet in a dramatic sunset and Ray a group of Ravins at sunrise in front of Mt. Rainier. Then we share about researching birds using Chat GPT, and end on our thoughts on Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest winners.

Brad and I catch up on the very little photogarphy we’ve done the past week and Ray shares a story chasing Pika that resulted in something unexpected. Then we answer a listener submitted topic from birdsbyjing on Instagram - Hey Ray, do you have any episodes about how you decided to get into photography full time, even before wildlife? I've been thinking about "passion" careers vs. "traditional" careers and have always been curious how people get into the former, as someone who almost followed that path - I studied classical music composition in college but started my career in software.

Ray and Brad share their recent outings for American Dipper and Black-bellied Plover, then they discuss the Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 contest results as well as more general conversation about contests.